Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-12-30
Like a Greer Bay-Tree.
BY JOHN STRANGE WINTER

they ilourished Ike green bay-tree!
They were young. rich, of good po-
sltion, birth, appearance; they lived in
lovely old house, the grounds of
which were 'la d out ruins" as Mrs.
Hunter WAS so anxious To have hers;
they were clever, undeuiably SO; they
were both rtd-hot Rad Gals. though
husband and wife had alike come of
stanCh Conservative families, but rs
Enstace Nane was accustomed 10 re-
mark. when the c Renaissance was no
ticed. I'VE are ser than our fathers.
Those who remembered old Squire
Vane and the present Mrs. Naue's father
William LOTUS, rector of Nanedene,
u age about three miles west Of Gar
hampton, were of opinion that Eus-
ace Nane was wrong IN saving so; but,
OF course. wisdom must be more or less
a matter of opinion and Eustace Nane,
like an, other man in This free and en-
l.ghteued land of Liberty. wa, able 10
hold what opinions he chose upon that
eul j Ct, us upon any obhCi'
Bul it was not on account Of their
pol teal opinions that the Garthamp;on
folks kcned the Vanes. Of Nanedene,
to the ungodly. who. as the Book says,
flourish | ke green bay-tree, but be-
cause, as few outspoken ones graph
cally put il, they beiieUed an nothing.
They had been married more than
Eve years at the t me when our story
begins. OF their political opinions
they made no secret neither did they
or their utter absense of religious ones.
They simply had none: they believed
in nothing, hoped for nothing. looked
for nothing was all.
To such people as attempted to argue
with them they were perfectly civil and
ir endly. They said. 1T is very kind
Of you TO try and convince us OF the
truth of your religious views, but
we don't believe in the world to come;
se don't believe in the resurrection OF
Tho dead. life after death; we don't be
ieve in heaven. or in the divine trUh
81 the Bible. nor yet in the story OF me
EospeL 1t is all very pretty j you
and pleasure and comfort theroih we
have no wish to deprive you OFT we
ion't want you TO be OF 6ur way OF
thinking; We don't wish to De unfriend-
~ about il. We merely sish to be left
alone in our bel eff. VIII IN Is IN this lie
present and nothing ebe. We don't 60
70 church because We don't believe in
Sod, aud We are pot hypocrites. We
don't st al Sunday with our hands
folded. because we believe the Sabbath
y an institution found by long exper-
snce TO be necessary for the well-being
II people We have no desire TO
a5,rier you from your way. nor to make
YOU 90 ours-we only want to be left
alone.
s.. at length. left alone on religious
Subjects they were. Only one lady,
having a vivid remembrance OF the
dead and gone rector of Vanedene,
suggested to h $ daughter that il was
impossible she could believe, really be-
lieve, that she had parted with him
forever when she saw him laid in the
narrow house where we shall all lie
some day.
my father was a very good man,
said Mrs Eustace Vane que tlv. He
served his day and genration faithfully
his good acts will spread in ever
widening circles down the neve'-end-
Airg ages of eternity. On his rave
btone is written: "His works do blow
Jim.
u You have actually quoted the book
a you profess so disbeieve" cried. her
friend.
Il acknowledge much Of its wisdom. ="
sa Il Mrs. Eustace Vane, with hersu-
rerior SIN le-and after that her fr,nd
gave it up.
However, in spite of their heathetsh
fe. they were very much sought afer
Nv the Garthampton people. Thy
fere intensely respectable. Eustse
Fane would rs soon have thought "
making a hole n the river Garth as
elling lie or breaking faith with tia
very poorest of his tenants. The
never qusrrelled with each other; thei
,ervants remained with them for niue
bnger periods than is usual in thes
lays of change. and when they did leav
hev never accused Their master an
distress Of DIR hiking. "a is the ordinar
'ay OF servants.
A. True. they played tennis and waltze
d Sunday; and went for long tramu
ben other people were at churcl
AURA in a cotton gown with a bask,
kr mushrooms or wild flowers. as tn
sason and chance might be; Eustsc
KIN ckerbocker suit and straw ha
Bot they were young and agreeable, 5
arthampton folks made = virtue {
tutting their eyes to the ono proceed
hg and their ears 10 the other, and Il